The position which this solemn anathema occupies is truly remarkable. In the course of his lengthened epistle, the apostle had to rebuke and correct many practical evils, and doctrinal errors. There were divisions amongst the Corinthians. They were puffed up for one against another. There was fornication amongst them. They went to law one with another. There was gross disorder at the Lord’s Supper. Some of them called in question the grand foundation truth of the resurrection of the dead.
These were grave errors and formidable evils-errors and evils which called forth the sharp and stern reproof of the inspired apostle. But, be it carefully noted, that when, at the close, he pronounces his solemn “Anathema Maranatha,” it is not directed against those who had introduced the errors or practiced the evils, but against “any man who loves not the Lord Jesus Christ.” This, surely, is well worthy of serious thought. The only security against all manner of error and evil is genuine love to the Lord Jesus Christ. A man may be so strictly moral, as that no one could put the word “Anathema” signifies anything devoted to death; and “Maranatha” signifies the Lord cometh to judgment. His finger upon a single blot in his character—a single stain in his reputation, and, underneath that strict morality, there may be a heart as cold as ice, so far as the Lord Jesus is concerned. Again, a man may be so marked by a spirit of noble benevolence, that his influence is felt throughout the entire sphere in which he moves; and, all the while, his heart may not have a single pulsation of love to Christ. Finally, a man may possess, in the region of his understanding, a perfectly orthodox creed, and he may be devotedly attached to the ordinances and observances of traditionary religion, and be wholly without affection for the adorable Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It may even happen that all these things, namely, lofty morality, noble benevolence, sound orthodoxy, and devoted attachment to religious forms, exist in one and the same individual, and that individual be wholly void of a single spark of genuine affection for the Lord Jesus Christ, and, as a solemn and startling consequence, stand exposed to the burning Anathema of God the Holy Ghost. I may be moral, through love to self. I may be benevolent through love to my fellow. I may be orthodox, through a love of dogmas. I may be religious, through a love of sect. But none of these things can shield me from the merited judgment which is denounced by the Holy Ghost against “any man” no matter who or what, who “loves not the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This is a deeply solemn and most seasonable word for the present moment. Let the reader deeply ponder it. Let him remember that the only basis for true morality—the only basis for genuine benevolence—the only basis for divine orthodoxy—the only basis for “pure religion” is love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and where this love exists not, all is cold, sterile, and worthless—all exposed to death and judgment by the “Anathema Maranatha” of the Holy Ghost. If the heart be really touched with the vital spark of love to Jesus, then every effort after pure morality, every struggle against our hateful lusts, passions, and tempers, every opening of the hand of genuine benevolence, every sound and truthful principle, every act of devotion, every pious aspiration, every fervent breathing, every outgoing of the soul, is precious to the Father—precious to the Son—precious to the Holy Ghost—all is fragrant with the perfume of that dear Name which is the theme of heaven’s wonder—the center of heaven’s joy, the object of heaven’s worship.
And, my beloved reader, should we not “love the Lord Jesus Christ? “Should we not hold Him dearer to our heart than all beside? Should we not be ready to surrender all for Him? Should not our bosoms swell with emotions of sincere attachment to His Person, in heaven, and His cause on earth? How could we trace Him from the bosom of the Father to the manger of Bethlehem—from the manger of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary—and from the cross of Calvary to the throne of the majesty in the heavens—how could we “consider” Him as “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,” and not have our whole moral being brought under the mighty constraining influence of His love?
May the Holy Ghost so unfold to our souls His matchless glories and peerless excellencies, that we may “count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.’’
“ Jesus, I love thy charming name;
‘Tis music to mine ear,
Fain would I sound it out so loud,
That earth and heaven should hear.
Yes, thou art precious to my soul,
My transport and my trust:
Jewels to thee are gaudy toys,
And gold is sordid dust.
All my capacious powers can wish,
In thee doth richly meet:
Nor, to mine eyes, is light so dear,
Νor friendship half so sweet.
Thy grace still dwells upon my heart,
And sheds its fragrance there;
The noblest balm of all its wounds,
The cordial of its care.”